Please click on photos to see a larger one
Friday Morning, 29th April 2011, around 0830 hours. Several boats in the marina and dock, one on the moorings and one on the hard.
Dave launching Rice Pudding.
Ian and David going for Chablis.
Jetwind leaving the dock having locked down from the Marina. Triagos was thinking of coming too but decided against.
I think Penny Diamond and Sparkle also left but I missed them.
Ian and David bringing Chablis across to the jetty to load up and take Barbara, Paul and Michael on board.
Rice Pudding, sponsons out and main up setting off.
0940 hours: The Glasson Yacht Squadron are on their way!
In December I'd told Ian that I wouldn't be able to race this year because of my bad knee injured last June - he reckons he never got the e-mail! I told him again at the February Music Night but he wouldn’t accept it. Last week he said "Did I want to sail" and I said "Yes, but I’d be no use". I wouldn’t be able to leave the cockpit but he said that’s fine, David and Paul can do all the work you can just sit there, so in the end, with Sue’s encouragement, I gave way. They kept to their word and I really didn’t have to do anything that was beyond me.
I worked the mainsail in the cockpit and did two spells of helming, one hour and a three-and-half hour stint. The hardest time for my knee was getting into and out of the fore peak, my ‘cabin’, and making my way inside the boat – Chablis is quite narrow.
We sailed out of the Lune and here we're well on our way leaving Walney Island and getting among the wind farms.
Over the radio we heard various bits of gossip from the other four boats. Main topic seemed to be that one boat didn't have a kettle to brew up - vital on a long voyage. We saw the guillemots again as we passed the halfway mark. We sailed most of the way but the wind dropped so we put the motor on - the sea was still moderate and a little confused. Many hours later we arrived in Ramsey Harbour at around 2100 hours. At times uncomfortable but we've had worst crossings.
Saturday 30th April - Rest Day! In the afternoon we had a swim in the bathing pool to rest and relax, also to have a shower to wash away the cobwebs.
We'd had a 'rocky' night. The north-east wind was blowing straight into the harbour and it was quite choppy. We decided to move into the inner harbour, where it was more peaceful - only a gentle movement on the boat. We, Chablis, rafted alongside Honey of Bosham, a Sigma fin-keeler with a large family crew. Crew went to the clubhouse in the evening.
Sunday 1st May - Race Day! I woke up early full of anxieties and apprehension. the forecast was interesting: NE 4 to 5 occasionally 6 - that was to prove optimistically low! It was a dull start to the day but soon the sun was shining.
Here we are rafted outside Honey of Bosham, it's around 0730 hours, the tide hasn't reached the inner harbour yet.
Jetwind alongside the wall in the outer harbour and Rice Pudding further to the right. We are even further to the right under the swing bridge. Penny Diamond and Sparkle are further up stream still.
Lee, Big John and Ian H. on Penny Diamond waiting for the swing bridge to open to let us out into Ramsey Bay. It's now around 0925 hours.
0935 hours, Barbara waving us off. Barbara sailed over with us but today she's staying with neighbours, who moved to the Isle of Man many years ago. We're away at last but the first gun goes off at 0950 hours, ten minutes to our start time and the swing bridge has only just opened!
We started to raise the mainsail before we'd left the harbour as we passed between the two breakwaters. We identified the start buoy and therefore the start line. We had two reefs in the main and the Genoa was opened up to jib size.
We crossed the start line seconds after the gun, our best start yet although Penny Diamond had a better start. We were just behind Meniscus and we kept with them until halfway to Point of Ayre.
. 
Penny Diamond is already leaving us behind but we're ahead of Jetwind, both of them are faster boats than us.
Too rough for any more photos so the camera was put away to get on with the serious business of sailing in stormy conditions. Fortunately the sun was shining, which always makes the wind seem less strong.
We were sailing close-hauled for the Point of Ayre , the northern tip of the Isle of Man, with two reefs and a reefed headsail. For the first time we had waves breaking over the boat - wet sleeves and down the back of my neck! We only need one short tack. There are excellent photographs of us all rounding the Point taken by Manx Sail Racer. 1120 hours. Examples below:
Permission received from Manx Sail Racer to use the next five photos - please do not copy them without manxsailracer's permission
Chablis
Penny Diamond
Jetwind
Sparkle
Rice Pudding
All five boats of Glasson Sailing Club's Squadron rounding Point of Ayre
When we arrived at the Point, Barbara was on shore waiving to us.
Around the Point of Ayre we eased the sheets and we could see the spinnakers on the boats ahead flying. For a while we struggled to get the boat sailing, using the full Genoa but obviously needing a spinnaker. We tried goose-winging with little more success. Michael was helming after the Point of Ayre but after an hour he seemed to be suffering from sun stroke so Ian took over again. 1225 hours off Jurby Head. The sun was blazing down now around midday and it was really hot.
We watched Rice Pudding creep past us inshore. Rice Pudding's class had started 30 minutes after us. The starts are times so that all the boats converge on the Point of Ayre at high water, making it safe to go round. The shore is steep too at the Point of Ayre so we all go close inshore. Hence all the good photos. The only boat behind us now was Jetwind. We were later to find out that both Rice Pudding and Sparkle had retired into Peel. Sparkle, a relatively small boat was repeatedly getting knocked down so thy did the only sensible thing and retired - a brave decision for two young men. I guess the wave and wind conditions were impossible for Rice Pudding - probably like a uncontrollable wild stallion.
Then the wind veered a bit. 1400 hours. We settled down on port tack but beyond Peel we agreed to put another reef in. David was sent to the mast to put the third reef in. The first two reefs can be secured from the cockpit but after that it becomes difficult. Now fully reefed it got really wild, we'd put the reef in just in time. We almost lost control five or six times, the gust pulling us to windward, spilling wind from the mainsail was no longer sufficient to keep the boat on course in the gusts. Several waves broke over us on this leg. I guess this was the weather that hammered the fast boats beyond the Calf. Jetwind was way behind and further offshore.
After struggling for what seemed ages we reached the Calf of Man, still beating to windward we decided to take the inside course and left Chicken Rock to Starboard. 1550 hours.
Michael helming again. We were surprised to see Milly Brown coming at us from Starboard so we had to give way. Where had they been because they had drawn way ahead of us down the west coast. Jetwind was beginning to overhaul us now. There was now another boat ahead of us, which must have been Meniscus. Jetwind were now flying foresail and mizzen only?
We tacked again and could see Milly Brown way ahead of us again close in to shore. Meniscus, Milly Brown and ourselves were now sailing in echelon, Meniscus as far ahead of Milly Brown as Milly Brown was us. (Milly Brown is a Contessa 32 and Meniscus is a Hunter 32, both faster boats than us)
Some time later we crossed Jetwind, who had to give way to us, as we were on starboard tack. I said to Ian should we tack over them and he said no. I found out later that Martin had said the same to Dave.
Meniscus, Milly Brown and Jetwind disappeared round Langness Point. Where had we gone wrong? 1830 hours. We arrived at Langness Point and again took the inshore course, not realising that Jetwind had gone offshore again. Ian took over the helm once more.
We progressed northwestwards and suddenly Jetwind was behind again!
2000 hours. Around Douglas I began to feel cold so went below to add more clothes. This involved removing some outer clothing so whilst 'undressed' decide to relieve myself. Suddenly I felt reluctant to go back on deck. Tried to relax. laid down but didn't get any better. Eventually I sat up and vomited, sea sick. Never before have I been seasick, except for one occasion, through fear, which only lasted a few minutes. I became more or less useless but then the two youngsters came alive. It seemed an eternity to the end of the race! I tried to live in the moment and concentrate on breathing.
Whilst I was below Jetwind must have passed us again as they finished about 15 minutes ahead of us..
Ian, David and Paul then sailed the boat, waves still occasionally breaking over the boat, one half-filled the cockpit, to and round Maughal Head and on to Ramsey and over the finish line at 2340 hours. I survived and once again we were all delighted to achieve completing the race. We'd done our best so we were happy. We expected to be seventh as ten boats had appeared to start and we were confident that finishing only a few minutes behind Jetwind we had beaten her on handicap - we knew by now that Rice Pudding and Sparkle had retired.
Monday 2nd May - Rest Day but what a day! Barbara flew back to Blackpool, work on Wednesday.
Nine competitors started, with seven yachts completing a testing rounding of the Island.
The race was held in fair conditions, but with fresh Easterly winds, which increased to gale force over the south of the Island. Several competitors decided not to start, and two competitors retired into Peel. Sea Pie of Cultra reported 46kn coming off the land at Dalby, when under two reefs and a Number 3 jib.
Honey of Bosham's owner said he'd been coming for 40 years and these were the worst conditions he'd encountered.
The Douglas Sailing Club boats were told not to race by the Douglas Harbour Master because of the severe conditions round the south of the island, they had been due to sail up on Saturday afternoon.
One yacht was considered not fit to race, which they did but I understand things didn't go well for them vindicating the race officers.
The Irish boats didn't turn up but nevertheless of the boats that raced three were past winners- now it's four.
Usually between 30 and 40 yachts race.
Skippers of the Winning Squadron - left to right
Norman Whewell - Rice Pudding - RTD
Ian Sharples - Chablis - 1st Overall
John Broadhead - Penny Diamond - 4th Overall
Jack Broadhead - Sparkle - RTD
David Holmes - Jetwind - 6th Overall
Ian, Chablis' Skipper, receiving their first trophy from the sponsor - Division II Class C - The Quayle Tankard - somewhat bemused
The second trophy - Best Bilge Keeler - The Briggs Trophy - beginning to like this
The third trophy - Overall Winner - The Coronation Cup - is this really happening
Now with the fourth trophy - Overall Monohull - The Golden Jubilee Trophy - becoming modest
Permission received to use the photo of us with our trophies by Manx Sail Racer
Chablis' crew with their trophies - Paul, David, Skipper Ian & Michael
Big John receiving the 'Shelagh Williams Trophy' for winning Division II Class B
Norman receiving the Best Squadron cup, the 'Isle of Man Times Trophy'
Paul with the crew of Chablis' trophies - just to make his cousin envious
When we gathered in the clubhouse to hear the results we were all expecting John and Penny Diamond to have won again. Not in our wildest dreams did we expect the sweep the board! Thinking eight boats had finished we were expecting to be seventh. I was so emotional I couldn't ring Suzie because I was practically in tears so I texted her instead.
I think most people struggle to get boat speed in those conditions but we have to concentrate on spilling wind so the boat is sailing at its fastest. Ideal for the boat so able to make maximum use of the handicap.
Tuesday 3rd May - Ramsey to Piel Harbour. We left Ramsey at 1115 hours.
We got back safely on Tuesday to Piel although the wind was on the nose half of the way. We motored all the way with the fully reefed main, it took us all of ten hours even so. Having been shaken about on Friday and Sunday, the noise of the motor wasn’t as offensive as usual. The second half of the journey was OK as the sea had quietened. We arrived in Piel Harbour at 2115 hours and picked up a Club mooring.
Wednesday 4th May - Piel Harbour to Glasson
0915 hours - We could have sailed back from Piel on Wednesday but again we were knackered and had a late start so motor-sailed over a slight sea. We arrived alongside the jetty at the sailing club at 1207 hours. Paul and I disembarked with all the gear and Ian and David took the boat across to the mooring and tidied her up a little.
It was good to get in a bed at last!
The riddle of our success continues to baffle me. No doubt the handicap has a lot to do with it. (If we’d have had the same handicap last year we’d have been fourth instead of fourteenth.) I suppose the conditions and the time of arrival at the Calf of Man and at Langness Point favoured us too.
28th May - I've given it more thought over the past weeks. Studying the photos of the boats rounding the Point of Ayre, I've noticed that we were one of the few who were reefed. This enabled us to sail more upright on the correct angle for optimum boat speed. We also made better course choices. I'm beginning to agree with Ian that we are a very good crew.